In this issue: The Caucasian War The India USA Nuclear Agreement ULDY Lebanon Anti Imperialist March & more...
WFDY NEWS Editorial August was a real hot month this year! New indications for the emergence of international conflicts appeared in the Caucasus after Georgia involved in the expanding NATO projects and new emerging power of capitalist Russia interfered. The war caused the deaths of thousands of civilians from both sides and proved that United States and NATO are no proof for stability in any country. On the contrary, their expansions projects can only bring death and misery to the people involved in the process. Russia proved itself as the main power in the region but also proved its imperialist character as a country militarily interfering to protect its interests. This region will witness more troubles and tensions as the indirect fight between NATO and Russia evolves through other countries like Ukraine, Poland and Czech Republic. The victory will be ours! This also reasserts the need to stop the militarization of the world and the importance of the dismantling of the military bases in Europe and across the world. WFDY and its member organizations have been struggling against those bases for long years, and were clear in their opposition of the new suggested bases in Poland and Czech Republic. Peace and stability in the world cannot be established under the presence of more than 700 U.S army bases around the globe with millions of troops of NATO interfering and invading countries like Iraq and Afghanistan, and dividing countries like the former Yugoslavia and its descendant countries. WFDY will continue its struggle for the right of a peaceful world free of wars and sectarian and ethnic divisions created by imperialism. In this respect it is also important to emphasize the opposition of our member organization in India for the nuclear agreement signed by the Indian government with the United States, and the march organized by ULDY Lebanon to bring the Lebanese people together above the sectarian divisions that create continuous tensions and strives. The struggles of the youth against imperialism continue in different regions around the world from Latin America with its Bolivarian alternatives to the streets of Europe for the students and young worker's rights. The th Federation of Young Communists in Italy organized its 4 National camp under the title of Resistance 2008 and gathered hundreds of people to reinforce the struggle for the students' rights during next autumn and the different rights of Italian Youth under the neo-liberal policies of Berlusconi. WFDY continues its actions in service of youth rights and will be near to the youth in their anti-imperialist struggles against wars and exploitation, for peace and social transformation. Page 1
WFDY NEWS WFDY Activities ULDY Anti-imperialist March Under the slogan of All of Lebanon is for us all, the Union of Lebanese Democratic Youth launched a 34-day march that started from the city of Aley in mount of Lebanon on July 6 and finished in a central activity in Beirut on August 9, 2008. The march walked for 34 full days, 7-8 hours per day through all major Lebanese towns, villages and cities covering about 1000 km of total distance demanding the unity and the civil peace in the Lebanese society, and enlightening the youth about the dangers of sectarian divisions promoted by foreign interventions and internal politicians. Sectarianism is the one of the most dangerous tools of division in the Lebanese society that consists of 18 religious sects. And the Lebanese youth and people have always been victims of divisions and tensions reaching the level of civil wars at several times in recent history. The importance of the march lies, not only in the huge distance covering all Lebanese towns, but also more importantly in the message that it carried to youth from all regions and religions in Lebanon. The message was that the borders between Lebanese people are only illusive and fake, that we can unify ourselves and walk to each other's places. The diversity of the members of ULDY among all regions and groups helped intensify the message and reach thousands of youth who were responsive with the idea and greeted the march in their respective towns. Some of the media was also responsive to the new idea and had some fair coverage of the event, and this allowed it reach a big audience of Lebanese yout WFDY CC and WFYS Partners meet - The struggle goes on! The Coordinating Council of WFDY and an International Consultative Meeting of the World Festival of Youth and Students took place, on July 17 and 18, in Caracas, Venezuela, hosted by the Communist Youth of Venezuela. Both meetings had the presence of more than 30 organizations, which contributed to enrich the discussion on the steps to be given in the future to keep reinforcing the youth's struggle against imperialism. The continuation of the Campaign on Education We struggle for a Public, Free and Quality Education for All!, as well as the solidarity towards KSM Czech Republic, Burmese and Palestinian youth were highlighted as priorities of an intense calendar of struggles and activities ahead of all organizations until the General Council Meeting of WFDY, to take place in India, next December. Throughout the ICM it was clear that, despite the difficulties that the withdrawal of Belarus to host the Festival, all organizations are willing to work for an anti-imperialist 17th WFYS, even stronger than the 16th in all political aspects. WFDY History The 3rd World Festival of Youth and Students - Berlin - 1951 The 3rd World Festival of Youth and Students, 1951 was convened in Berlin to continue its very tradition of fighting for justice, peace and friendship against fascism and imperialism. The choice of Berlin was imperative as it was the place from where the fascism was grown up and speeded its ugly tentacles against world people, and finally where it was turned to dust by the power of world people. That festival was convened under the slogan For Peace and Friendship against Nuclear Weapons as the race of nuclear armament was being again threaten. It was especially creating tension in Asia as America was waging a war in Korean peninsula and France was intervening to Indo-China. Even in western countries, the 'Witch Hunt' in the US and punishment in military court against progressive forces was under way. However it was the time of great resistance of progressive forces and the festival was marked by the same. Imperialist forces had denied visa to the delegates of festival and Berlin road was blocked. American and British helicopters were continually scattering pamphlets against festival. In one night, anti-festival and profascist forces entered eastern Berlin and vandalized the streets. But this only fueled more the feeling of unity and resistance. On 12th of August, around one million youth from GDR accompanied by the festival 26000 delegates took a march in the street of Western-Berlin against militarization of FRG. Page 2
WFDY NEWS International News The Nuclear Agreement between India and USA The current UPA-led coalition of Monmohan Singh has finally agreed Indo-US Nuclear deal despite the serious opposition of lefts. The Indo-US Nuclear deal has been full of controversy ever since its inception. The serious question raised by lefts is that the deal betrays the values that India has been carrying its legacy of non-align movement. It binds Indian right to decide its independent energy policy enhancing independent relationship with different nations. India is an energy hunger country to feed its growing economy and there is no doubt that it needs multifaceted energy development plan. But the nuclear deal can only full fill 3 percent of energy need of India and it could reach 7 percent even after completion of whole project in 25 years. It is claimed that India would get access of US Civilian nuclear technology and fuel instead of allowing civilian nuclear facilities to inspection. The fear of progressive forces of India is that the US will influence too much over India's foreign and nuclear policy. Moreover, this huge amount of money could be used in health and education by building 20,000 new public hospitals or colleges. WFDY member organizations in India have been organizating huge campaigns in parliament, in streets, in colleges and in villages. Till now hundrends of thousand of youths and students have taken demonstation against this pact, showing that they want the continuation of its tradition of independent foreign policy that born from the cradel of national independence. FGCI Camp - Active Resistance 2008 Upon the invitation of our member organization Youth Federation of Italian Communists (FGCI), WFDY participated in the 4th national camp of FGCI under the title of Active Resistance 2008. This is the 4th consecutive camp of FGCI but it is the first with international participation. This year 4 organizations participated: WFDY, JCP-Portugal, KNE-Greece and YCL-Georgia. FGCI plans to keep the international participation for the next years and improve it. The camp was held in a camping place named Heliopolis by the seashore about 200 kms away from Rome, and accommodation was held in small private tents. The program combined a summer vacation program with a politically organized program. All working sessions started in the after noon or late after noon leaving a lot of free time for the participants. The camp came in a critical period after the defeat of the Rainbow coalition in the elections and the absence of any communist representative from the parliament since WW 2. FGCI were very worried about the future of Italian communists. Eventually, during our presence there, the 2 congresses of both parties were concluded (PdCI and Refoundazione) and both parties took the choice of forming a communist coalition to revive the struggle and go towards the next elections. The camp lasted from July 26 to August 1 and had discussions and seminars about education, unemployment, young workers, Italian Mafia, drugs, LGBT issues and the future of Italian communists. WFDY saluted the comrades for their efforts and wished them successful struggles against imperialism in their country. The Caucasian War Georgia (and NATO) vs Russia During the month of August the escalation of the international tense brought a clash between Georgia and Russia. After the Georgian attack to Russia, Russian troops invaded Georgia. The violence during the days of the war between Georgia and Russia lead to thousands of victims between dead and wounded people and refugees. This conflict, in which the youth and people of Georgia are merely victims, is a sign of the growing aggressiveness of imperialism and demonstrates that NATO, USA and European Union members' strategy of surrounding Russia, China and DPRKorea and achieving good geo-strategic positioning to attack Iran is leading to a very tense and dangerous situation for the people of the world. The American anti-missile shield, as well as other military measures, will only bring more turbulence and eventually burst into conflicts such as this one. This proves, once again, that only by defeating imperialism is possible a world of peace and friendship, and that our struggle is more up to date than ever! Page 3
Youth struggling Against imperialism FOR PEACE UNITED WE SHALL WIN! celebration of the International Day of Peace Sept 21st WORLD FEDERATION OF DEMOCRATIC YOUTH www.wfdy.org
WFDY is an international NGO with consultative status with UN (ECOSOC) and operational relations with UNESCO Presented a Peace Messenger award by UN Secretary General in 1987 Address:1139 Budapest XIII, Frangepán Utca 16 - Hungary Tel/ Fax: +361 350 22 02/ 350 12 04 E-mail: wfdy@wfdy.org/ wfdy@axelero.hu/ wfdy@t-online.hu www.wfdy.org